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| John (L) and Dick Nelson |
The side from the county town of Peakshire in the East Midlands will always be associated with the Nelson family, for there had always been a Nelson in the eleven for decades. Some of the Nelson's were top players, some less so, but some fans believed that there just had to be a Nelson in the side at all costs.
While never managing to win a major trophy Barford have produced some top class footballers over the years. From the maverick outside left Joe Sloper, who was sold to Melchester Rovers for a big fee, to Dick Nelson the brilliant England international centre half.
Dick was captain of the Black Hawks as was his father and his grandfather before that. And what a player he was, however he was also Captain of a Military Intelligence regiment which led him into a secret undercover mission. Sent to the rogue nation of Boravia, Dick had to pose as a traitor to gain access to the dictator's inner circle. The plan worked and Dick saved thousands of lives. But to maintain the cover, Dick was given a new identity, plastic surgery and even had his voice altered. Now known as Bob Clayton, he was free to return to civilian life.
With the Hawks struggling in the league as there was now no Nelson in the team, Dick now Clayton was given a trial and of course immediately signed on. Even Dick's father did not recognise his son, but brother John, who was crippled from a car crash, had noticed some similarities.
With Clayton performing, the Hawks were back on form. But Boravian agents were soon after Dick. After various scrapes, everything was cleared up, with the Boravian dictator toppled, Dick the traitor mess was cleared up and Dick Nelson was back, this time playing alongisde his brother, now healed, in the Barford team.
Barford have spent most of their history in the Second Division with occasional periods up and down. All of the 50s Albion were confined to the Third Division. The late 60s in the second tier, with promotion gained back to the First Division in 67/68. Relegation came in at the end of the 71/72 season.
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| Barford in change strip vs Melchester Aug 75 |
Albion had a good go at getting back up, narrowly missing promotion in 74/75, but it was their chance missed and relegation came in 76/77. However, the Black Hawks would regroup to reach the FA Cup Final in 1985, where they would lose to dominant Everpool and a return to the First Division followed.
Players:
Batsford IR 8 49/50
Bellows RH 4 49/50
Carson GK 1 72/73
Cressey LW 11 49/50
George Garvey IF 70/71
Howard LH 6 49/50
Johnny King LW 11 70/71
Latham GK 1 49/50
Marston LB 3 49/50
Napson CF 9 49/50
Dick Nelson CH 5 71/72 England international
John Nelson LW 11 71/72
Andy Patterson CF 9 70/71
Radman IL 10 49/50
Rampling CH 5 49/50
Joe Sloper LW 11 62/63 Sold to Melchester Rovers
Stock RW 7 49/50
Tarpole RB 2 49/50
Notes: Dick Nelson plays for a period under the name Bob Clayton before reverting back to Dick. The Nelsons appear in The Ninety Minute Nelsons in Hornet. Barford is named as the county town of Peakshire in Limp Along Leslie in Wizard.
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